4-halo-delta-pregnadiene derivatives and process therefor



United States Patent The present invention relates to novel cyclopentanophenanthrene derivatives and to a process for the production thereof.

t More particularly the present invention relates townovel 4-fiuoro and chloro-A -pregnadiene derivatives.

The novel compounds of the present invention which .are progestational agents with anti-estrogenic, anti-gonadotrophic and anti-ovulatory properties are represented joy the following formula:

' omY X represents fluorine or chlorine; R represents hydrogen or methyl; R represents hydrogen, hydroxyl or a hydrocarbon carboxylic acyloxy group of less than 12 carbon atoms; R represents hydrogen, u-methyl, B-methyl, u-hy- '-droxy or u-acyloxy; in'addition R? and R together may 4 represent the group:

' ..o P .e o a ...o. \Q

wherein P may be a lower alkyl group and "Q represents alowiefalkyl, or an aryl or aralkyl group, eachcontaining upto S-carbon atoms. H, v t

The acyloxy groups are derived from hydrocarbon carboxylic acids containing less than 12 carbon atoms which may be saturated or unsaturated, of straight, branched,

cyclic ,or cyclic-aliphatic chain, aromatic and may be substituted by functional groups such as hydroxy, alkoxy containing'up to S-carbon atoms,-acyloxy containing up to 12 carbon atoms, nitro,-amino-or halogen. Typical ester E 1 5. trimethylacetate, .t-butylacetate', phenoxyacetate, cyclopentylpropionate, aminoacetate and fl-chl'oropropionate. The novel compounds of the present invention are prepared by the process exemplified by the following equa- V are the acetate, propionate, enanthate 1951129316,

3,076,803 Patented Feb. 5, 1963 ,7 OHlY can: H 5 (#:0 v EJHOH M R1 R1 i l i IV III X Y X In the above formulas Y, X, and R have the same meaning as previously set forth, R may be hydrogen or a hydrocarbon carboxylic acyloxy group of less than 12 carbon atoms; R represents hydrogen, a-methyl, B-methyl or u-acyloxy; in addition R and R together may represent the group p ...O/ \Q .wherein P and Q have the same meaning as hereinbefore described. v. In practicing the process outlined above, the starting compound, which is a 4-fluoro or chloro-M-pregnen-BJO dione derivative (1) is reduced with a double metal byz-dride, preferably sodium borohydride'to give the corresponding 35,20fi-diol and the Zia-isomer thereof (II). Reaction of this mixture in an acid medium, preferably 50% acetic acid, at steam bath temperature, for a period of time of the order of 1 hour, affords the corresponding --4-fiuoro or chloro-A? -pregnadien-2Oy8-ol (III); Oxidation of this latter compound, preferably with chromium :trio'xide in pyridine, yields the corresponding 4-fiuoro or chloro-A -pregnadien-20-one (IV).

r, .The compounds obtained by the above described pro- 4 cedures, which havev a l7a-acyloxy group present in the molecule, yield the corresponding 17a-free hydroxyl derivative by conventional saponificat ion, preferably witha'n alkali metal hydroxide.

The final compounds of the present invention having'a ketonide at the l6,17-positions produce the l 6kx,'l7a diols by hydrolysis with a strong acid, preferably, formic acid.

1 The free alcohols thus obtained, are conventionally acylated with an excess of an aeylating agent, as for example an anhydride derived from a hydrocarbon carbo'xylic acid of the type described hereinbefore in the presence of p-toluenesulfonic acid, thus affording correspondingly the l7a-monoacylates or the 1606,170t-di3CY13t6S. f The latter compounds, upon selective saponification in a mild alkaline medium yield the corresponding l6a-hydroxy- 17a-acyloxy derivative'which'by further acylation gives Preparation 1 Progesterone was treated with isocyanuric chloride, fol- 'lowing the procedure described by F. Mukawa, Bull. Chem. Soc. Japan 33, 25 (1960), yielding 4-chloro-proigesterone. V a j 19-nor-progester0ne .riodo-progesterone.

of water.

By the same procedure there were treated the starting compounds listed below, thus affording the corresponding products:

Starting compound Product 19-nor-progesterone 17a-acetoxy-progesterone lfiu-methyl-progesteronelofi-methyl-progesterone lfia-methyl-l7a-acetoxy-progesterone. 21-fiuoro-17a-acetoxy-progesterone 16a,17a-dihydroxy-progesteroneacetonide. progesterone-acetonide. 16a,17a-dihydroxy-progesterone- 4-chloro-16a,17a-d1hydroxyocetophenonidc. progesterone-aeetophenonide.

Preparation 2 A solution of 5 g. of progesterone in 350 cc. of methanol was treated while stirring with 20 cc. of a 4 N aqueous solution of sodium hydroxide and 20 cc. of 30% hydrogen peroxide, keeping the temperature at approximately 15 C. The solution was left at C. overnight, then poured into ice water. The formed precipitate was filtered, washed with water and dried. Recrystallization from acetone-hexane gave 4a,5ot-oxido-progesterone.

To a solution of g. of the foregoing oxide in 250 cc. of ether and 250 cc. of benzene were added 5 cc. of freshly distilled boron trifluoride etherate. The reaction mixture was left at room temperature overnight. After with water, dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate and evaporated under reduced pressure. The residue was dissolved in 120 cc. of acetone and mixed with 2 cc. of concentrated hydrochloric acid. The mixture was kept for 4 hours at room temperature and then poured into water. The product was filtered, dried under vacuum and crystallized from acetone-hexane, thus giving 4- fiuoro-progesterone.

Following the same procedures there were treated the starting compounds listed below thus yielding first the corresponding 40:,5ot-0Xid0 derivatives and thereafter the corresponding products hereinafter set forth.

Starting compound Product 17a-acewry-progesterone" 16a-methyl-progesterone ISB-methyI-progesterone 16a-methyl-17a-acetoxy-progesterone. progesterone. 21-fluoro-17a-acetoXy-progesterone 4-fiuoro-21-fluoro-17a-acctoxyprogesterone. 1(la,17a-dih ydroxy-progesterone 4-fluoro-16a,17a-dihydroxyacetonide. progesterone acetonide. 16a,17a-d1hydroxy-progesteronel flllOTO-lfia,17wdihydl'0Xyacetophcnomde. progesterone-acetophenonide.

Preparation 3 A cooled solution of 4 g. of 4-chloro-progesterone in 30 cc. of tetrahydrofuran and 18 cc. of methanol was treated under continuous stirring with 6 g. of pure calcium oxide, in small portions, and then with 6 g. of iodine. The stirring was continued at room temperature until the solution turned pale yellow. The mixture was poured into ice water containing 18 cc. of acetic acid and '2 g. of sodium thiosulfate. After stirring for 15 minutes addition of water, the organic layer was separated, washed from methanol-acetone yielded 4-chloro-2l-fluoro-progesterone.

When applying the same procedure to 4-fluoro-progesterone, 4-chloro-l9-nor-progesterone, 4-fluoro-l9nor-progesterone and 4-chloro-l6a-methyl-progesterone there were respectively produced 4,21-difiuoro-progesterone, 4- chloro-2l-fiuoro-19-nor-progesterone, 4,21 difiuoro l9- nor-progesterone and 4-chloro-21-fluoro-l6a-methyl-pro gesterone.

Preparation 4 A culture of Streptomyces roseochromogenus ATCC 3347 was prepared in an inclined agar medium containing 1% of glucose and 1% of yeast extract. 1 cc. of a suspension of this culture was then used to inoculate each one of a series of 250 cc. flasks containing 50 cc. of a sterilized aqueous medium of 2% peptone and 5% corn syrup, the mixtures were then incubated in a shaking machine at 28 C., under aeration for a period of 24-48 hours. There was thus obtained a vegetating growing culture of Streptomyces roseochromogenus which was used for the subsequent incubation of the steroid. V

10 mg. of 4-chloro-2l-fiuoro-progesterone were added to each 50 cc. of the vegetating culture of Streptomyces roseochromogenus, obtained as described above. The mixture was stirred for 48-72 hours with aeration and then extracted several times with methylene dichloride. The extract was washed with water, dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate, filtered and evaporated under reduced pressure.

The residue was purified by chromatography on silica gel thus giving 4-chloro-2l-fiuoro-loa-hydroxy-progesterone.

A mixture of 1 g. of the latter compound, 4 cc. of pyridine and 2 cc. of acetic anhydride was kept at room temperature overnight, poured into ice water, the formed precipitate was filtered, washed with water and dried. Crystallization from acetone-hexane gave 4-chloro-2lfiuoro-l6u-acetoxy-progesterone.

Following the same procedures, the compounds under I were first transformed into the corresponding 16a-hydroxy derivatives and thereafter, into the products under II.

I II

4,21-difluoro-progesterone-... 4-ch1oro-2l-fluoro-19-nor-progesterone.

4,21-difluoro-19-nor-progesterone..

4-chloro'19-nor-progesterone 4-fiuoro-1Q-nor-pmgesterone EXAMPLE I A solution of 2 g. of sodium borohydride in 30 cc. of ,methanol was added with stirring toa solution of 2 g. of -4-chloro-progesterone in 40 cc. of tetrahydrofuran. The mixture was keptat room temperature for 8 hours, the excess reagent was decomposed by addition of acetic acid, the resulting solution concentrated to small volume in vacuo and diluted with water. The product was extracted with ethyl acetate, the extract washed with water, dried and evaporated. Crystallization of the solid from acetone-hexane gave a mixture of 4-chloro-A -pregnene-3B, 20fi-diol and the Bot-isomer thereof. I

1 g. of the foregoing mixture was heated on the steam bath with 100 cc. of 50% acetic acid under nitrogen for 1 hour, it was then concentrated under vacuum to a small volume and pouredinto water. The precipitate was collected, washed well with water, dried and recrystallized from acetone-hexane, thus furnishing 4-chloro-A -pregnadien-ZOB-ol.

The starting compounds listed below, were treated by vacuum gave a crude product which after crystallization the foregoing procedures, affording first a mixture of the Starting compounds j Products t-chlro-19-n0r-progesterone 4-ehloro-17a-acetoxy-progesteroue".

4-chloro-16a-rnethy1-progesterone.

4chloro-16B-methy1-progesterone 4-0111oro-16a-methy1-17a-acetoxyprogesterone. 4-chloro-21-fluoro-17a-acetoxyprogesterone. 4-chloro-16a,17a-dihydroXyprogesterone-acetonide. 4-ch1oro-16a,17a-dihydroxye rogesterone-acetophenonide. 4- uoro-1Q-nor--progesterone 4'fluoro-17a-acetoxy-progesterone-.I

4-fluoro-1fia-methyl-progesterone 4-fluoro-16B-methyl-progesterone...

4-fluoro-lfia-methyl-fla-acetoxyrogesterone 4- uoro-21-fluoro-17a-acetoxyprogesterone. "d-fluoro-16a,17a-dihydroxyrogesterone acetonide.

'4 grogesterone-acetophenonide.

-chlorb-lQ-nor-A -pregnadlem now-progesterone EXA PLE n 4 501m of. gpr'echl ioaapre wa ri r-Q obtained in accordancewithExample I, in 120 cc. of pyridine was added to a mixture of 6 g. of ehromic trioxide in 120 cc. of pyridine. The reaction mixture was 735 kept at room temperature overnight. It was then diluted with ethyl acetate, filtered through celite and the-filtrate ,washed well with water, dried and evaporated to dryness. Crystallization from acetone-hexane afforded 4-chloro- 1 A -pregnad ien--one.

Following the above method there were treated the starting compounds liste'd below, thus yielding the corresponding products hereinafter disclosed.

Starting compounds t Products 4-chloro-19-nor-A -pregnadien- 205-01. 4-chloro-17u-acetoxy-A'- -pregna- (lien-201301 4-ch1oro-16a-methyl-A' -pregnadien-20fl-ol l-ehloro-IGB- ethyl-N- -pregnadien20fiol 4 -chloro-16a-methyl-17aacetoxy-N- -pregnadien-20B-01.

- kchloro-21-tluoro-17a-acetoxy- A -pregnadien-20fl-o1. 4-chloro-A -pregnadiene-16a,

17u,20B'triol-16,17-acetonide. 4-chloro-A'- -pregnadiene-1Ga,

17a,205-triol-l6,17-aeetophenonide.

4 -i2igoroi-l9-nor-A -pregnadieno dien-ZOB-ol 4-ehloro-ltrnor-A -pregnadien- A -pretZnadien-ZO-ono. 4-chloro-A' -pregnadiene-16a,

17a-dio1-20-oue-16,l7-acet0nide.; 4-chloro-N -pregnadiene-l 6a,

l'la-diol-20-one-16,17-acetophenonide. 4-fluoro-1 9-nor-A -pregnadien- 4-fluoro-A -pregnadieu-20-one.

EXAMPLE III A solution of 0.17 g. of potassium hydroxide in 0.2 cc. *of water and-2.5 cc. 'of. methanol was added over dried. Crystallization from acetone-hexane gave d-ehloro- -6 minutes to a boiling solution of 1 g. of 4-chloro-17aacetoxy-A -pregnadien-2O-one in 30 cc. of methanol under an atmosphere of nitrogen. Boiling was continued for a further 2 hours and the solution was then cooled, 5 neutralized with acetic acid and concentrated underre- 'duced pressure. Addition of water, followed by crystal- -lization of the precipitated'solid from acetone-hexane, produced 4-chloro-A -pregnadien-17u-ol-20-one.

Following the same technique there were treated 4- chloro 16a methyl-17a-acetoXy A -pregnadien-20-one, '4-fluoro-17a-acetoxy-A -pregnadien-20-one, and 4-fluoro- '16a-methyl-l7a-acetoxy-A -pregnadien-20-one thus giv- "ing correspondingly 4-ch1oro-16a-methyl-A -pregnadien- 17 01-20 one, 4-fluoro-A -pregnadien-17a-ol-20-one and 4-fluoro-16a-rnethyl-A -pregnadien-17a-ol-2O-one;

EXAMPLE IV Toa solution of 5 g. of 4-chloro-A -pregnadien-17aol 20-one, obtained according to the preceding example, in cc. of anhydrous benzene there were added 1 g. of p-toluene sulfonic acid "and 10 cc. of eaproic anhydride and the mixture was allowed to stand for 24 hours at room temperature, poured into ice and water, and the resulting mixture stirred to efiect hydrolysis of the excess anhydride. jThe benzene layer was separated and washed with 10% sodium carbonate solution and water. Drying, evapora- -tion and crystallization of the residue from ether-hexane produced 4 chloro A pregnadien-l7m-ol-20-one-caproate.

By the above procedure there were treated 4-chloro- 166: rnethyl-A t -pregnadien-l7a-ol-20 one, '4-fluoro-A pregnadien-17a-ol-20-one and 4-fluoro16bt-rnethyl-A -preg'nadien.-l7a-ol-20 one giving correspondingly 4-chloro 16 methyl-A -pregnadien-17a-ol-20-one-caproate, 4-fluoro-A -pregnadien-17a-ol-20 one-caproate and 4- fluoro-l6a-mcthyl-A -pregnadien-17a-ol-20-one-caproate.

EXAMPLE v EXAMPLE VI 4-chloro-A -pregnadiene-16a,l7a diol-20-one and 4- fluoro-A -pregnadiene-l6a,l7a-diol-20-one were acylated following the procedure described in Example IV affording respectively 4-chloro-A pregnadiene-l6a,17u-dio l-2O- one 16,17 dicaproate and 4 fluoro-A -pregnadiene- 16a,l7a-diol-20-one-l6,l7-dicaproate.

EXAMPLE VII EXAMPL vm.

A mixture of 1 g. of the foregoing compound, 4 cc. of .pyridine and Zoe. of propionic anhydride was kept at room temperature overnight, poured into ice water, the I formed precipitate wasfiltered, washed with water and A -pregnadien 160:,17

7 r diol 20-one-l6-propionate-l7- caproate.

EXAMPLE IX 4 fluoro A pregnadiene 16a,l7 x-diol-20-one was treated, following the technique described in the foregoing example, thus furnishing 4-fluoro-A -pregnadiene- 16a,l7a-diol-20-one-l6-propionate.

EXAMPLE X The foregoing compound was treated following the procedure described in Example IV, except that caproic anhydride was substituted by cyclopentylpropionic anhydride thus yielding 4-fiuoro-A -pregnadiene:l60:,17a-di0l- 20-one-16-propionate-l7-cyclopentylpropionate.

EXAMPLE XI 4 chloro-Zl-fiuoro-17u-acetoxy-A -pregnadien-20-one and 4,2l-difluoro-17a-acetoxy-A -pregnadien-ZO-one wer treated following the procedure described in Example III,

yielding respectively 4-chloro-21-fluoro-A -pregnadien- 17a-ol-20-one and 4,21-difiuoro-A -pregnadien-17u-ol- 20-one.

EXAMPLE XII 4-chloro-2l-fluoro-progesterone Was successively treated in accordance with Examples I and II, yielding respectively 4-chloro-21fluoro-A -pregnadien-ZO/S-ol and 4- chloro-2lfluoro-A -prcgnadien-20-one.

EXAMPLE XIII 4,2l-difiuoro-progesterone was consecutively treated according to Examples I and II, furnishing correspondingly .4,21 difiuoro-A -pregnadien-ZOfl-ol and 4,21-difluoro- A -pregnadien-20-one.

EXAMPLE XIV 4-chloro-21-fiuoro-19-nor-progesterone was successively treated following the procedures described in Examples I and II, giving respectively 4-chloro-21-fiuoro-l9-nor- A -pregnadien-20/3-ol and 4-chloro-21-fiuoro-19-nor-A pregnadien-ZO-one.

EXAMPLE XV 4,21 difiuoro l9 nor progesterone Was sucessively treated by the procedures of Examples I and II, thus affording respectively 4,21-difluoro-19-nor-A -pregnadien-ZQB-ol and 4,21-difluoro-19-nor-A -pregnadiene-20- one.

EXAMPLE XVI 4-chloro-2l-fluoro-l6a-methyl-progestcrone was successively treated in accordance with Examples I and II,

.to produce respectively 4-chloro-21-fiuoro-16u-methyl- EXAMPLE XVII 4,21 difiuoro 16a-acetoxy-progesterone, 4-chloro-21- fluoro 16a acetoxy 19-nor-progesterone, 4,21-difluoro- 160:. acetoxy-19-nor-progesterone, 4-chloro-16a-acetoxy- 19 nor progesterone and 4 fluoro-16a-acetoxy-l9-norprogesterone were treated in accordance with Example I, to produce respectively 4,21-difluoro-16a-acetoxy-A pregnadien-ZOfl-ol, 4-chloro-21-fiuoro-16a-acetoxy-l9-nor- A -pregnadien-2O5-ol, 4,21-difluoro-16a-acetoxy-l9-nor- A pregnadien -2O 3-ol, 4-chloro-l6a-acetoxy-19-nor- A -pregnadien-20fi-ol and 4-fluoro-16oi-acetoxy-l9-nor- A -pregnadien-20fi-ol.

EXAMPLE XVIII The final products of the preceding example were 'treated according to Example II, yielding respectively 4,21 4 difluoro 16a acetoxy A -pregnadien-20-one, 4- chloro 21-fluoro-16a-acetoxy-19-nor-A -pregnadien-20- one, 4,2l-difluoro-lfia-acetoxy-19-nor-A -pregnadien-20- one, 4 chloro-l6u-acetoxy-19-nor-A -pregnadien-2O one and 4-fiuoro-16a-acetoxy-19-nor-A -pregnadien-ZO-one.

8 EXAMPLE XIX The final products of the preceding example were treated in accordance with Example III, thus affording respectively 4,21-difiuoro-A -pregnadien-16a-ol-20-one, 4 chloro-2l-fluoro-19-nor-A -prcgnadien46u-ol-2O-one, 4,21 difluoro 19 nor-A -pregnadien-l6a-ol-20-one, 4 chloro-l9-nor-A -pregnadien-16a-ol-20-one and 4-fluoro- 19-nor-A -pregnadien-16a-ol-20-one.

We claim:

'1. A compound of the following formula:

CHzY

wherein Y is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and fluorine; R is a member of the group consisting of hydrogen and methyl; R is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, hydroxyl and a hydrocarbon carboxylic acyloxy group of less than 12 carbon atoms; R is a member of the group consisting of hydrogen, a-methyl, S-methyl, u-hydroxyl and an a-hydrocarbon carboxylic acyl group of less than 12 carbon atoms, R and R together are in addition, the group wherein P is a lower alkyl group and Q is selected from the group consisting of a lower alkyl, an aryl and an aralkyl group, each containing up to 8 carbon atoms.

2. A compound of the following formula:

.wherein Y is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and fluorine; R is a member of the group consisting of hydrogen and methyl; R is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, hydroxyl and a hydrocarbon carboxylic acyloxy group of less than 12 carbon atoms; R is a member of the group consisting of hydrogen, tit-methyl, fl-methyl, (at-hydroxyl and an a-hydrocarbon carboxylic acyl group of less than 12 carbon atoms; R and R together are in addition, the group 19. 4 fiuoro A pregnadiene 160:,170: diol one-16,17-acetonide.

20. 4 fluoro A pregnadiene 16a,17a diol 20 one-16,17-acetophenonide.

21. A process for the production of a compound selected from the group consisting of 4-fluoro-A -pregnadiene and 4-chloro-A -pregnadiene derivatives which comprises treating the corresponding 4-halo-A -pregnen- 3-one with a double metal hydride, and reacting the resulting mixture of and 3B hydroxy derivatives with an acid.

22. The process of claim 21 wherein the double metal hydride is sodium borohydride and the acid is acetic acid.

No references cited. 

1. A COMPOUND OF THE FOLLOWING FORMULA: 